Showcasing a broad expanse of jazz forms from all over the world, this year's edition features a number of performances from Poland's jazz players, starting with piano legend Leszek Możdżer performing with the maverick radio.string.quartet.vienna in celebration of the ACT recording company's 20th birthday (17.11). Born in 1971, Możdżer has been playing jazz since he was 18, winning competitions and collaborating with various bands before setting off on a solo career and recording more than 100 albums since. His style is a virtuosic blend of the classic with a fresh touch. See more at: mozdzer.com
Jazzpospolita is a group of four young highly skilled musicians: Stefan Nowakowski, Wojtek Oleksiak, Michał Przerwa-Tetmajer, Michał Załęski. Emblematic of a rich Polish jazz heritage, their music shows an appreciation for the traditional and a taste for experimentation. They uniquely blend of nu-jazz, electronica and melodic themes. Since releasing their debut EP Almost Splendid, an album incorporating classic skill with imaginative melodies, Jazzpospolita are bringing jazz fusion to the masses. Jazzpospolita performs as part of the Jazz in the New Europe concert (17.11), set up in the framework of the Culture Programme of the European Union, with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. See more at: www.myspace.com/jazzpospolita
Part of this showcase is the Take Five: Europe series presenting ten young acts from France, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and the UK (16.11). Jazz bassist Maciej Garbowski creates his own narrative thread that weaves into a larger story of how jazz in Europe has created its own identity inspired by the African-American tradition over the past half-century. The concert series is accompanied by two public discussions on the role of Europe as a melting pot for contemporary jazz (17.11 & 13.11). See more at: www.maciejgarbowski.com
Adam Baldych, who has been called "the greatest living jazz violinist" by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, performs with two contemporary piano greats - Germany's Michael Wollny and Finland's Iiro Rantala (12.11). Nicknamed "Evil" for his highly emotional style of performing, his style is very much rooted in improvisation and a poetic approach to jazz. Born in 1986, he has grown from a child prodigy into one of the most sought-after jazz musicians in Europe, as well as a successful composer of music for the cinema and theatre. See more at: adambaldych.com
More improvisational numbers come from the folk-inspired Dunajska Kapelye led by Polish jazz musician Piotr Jordan, who combines traditional Gypsy and eastern European melodies that put a fun, frivolous spin on the face of jazz (14.11). See more at: www.myspace.com/dunajskakapelye
Jazzpospolita - "RePolished Jazz" - teaser from Culture.pl on Vimeo
The London Jazz Festival is the capital's biggest pan-city music festival, taking place annually in November, showcasing musical talent from all over the world. The Independent has called the festival "that glorious time of year when more live improvised music can be heard in the bars, clubs and concert halls of the capital than the rest of the year put together." Polish performances at the event were made possible by support from the Polish Cultural Institute.
The London Jazz Festival is in venues across London between the 9th-18th of November. For more information and a full programme, see: www.londonjazzfestival.org.uk. For tickets, see: www.jazzcds.co.uk/piccadilly
Editor: Agnieszka Le Nart
Source: London Jazz Festival
Thumbnail credit: Adam Baldych photographed by Bartosz Maz